Friday, April 13, 2012

How To EMBELLISH a little girls room for under $40

Hello People!
I am so excited to publish this post today!  I have been wanting to refresh my daughters room for some time. Here's the kicker...I wanted to see how I could do it without spending any money.

THIS is what I was born to do people!  Remember Nanny's garage?  Let's do this!

This is BY FAR my favorite project yet and was the most fun.    Okay..I really loved the post On the Side of the Road too...

WARNING: You will NEVER look at some of the items in your home the same way.  Popsicle sticks, tissue paper, coffee filters, birth announcements, thank you notes, wrapping paper, tree branches,  magazines, a sheet, a canvas and some hand-me-downs from the 70's.  To name a few!

I do often imagine myself being on the Nate Berkus Show or Ellen, we would play a game where they would give me an object and I would have to come up with another use for it.  The more objects I could REPURPOSE, the bigger the prize I would get.  I don't know... like a $5,000 shoppping spree!  It is just something I am able to do...maybe it is my SECRET POWER...


Here's a peek at my daughters NEW ROOM--


TA DA!


Pom Pom's on a string of lights!
                                                         


Every little girl should have pom  pom's on a string of lights in her room!


This is so perfect at night, while your daughter has "quiet time" before bed and then you read a story.

This would be awesome for the Forth of July using red white and blue or all white for a summer party in the backyard.  I can see them hanging from trees or hanging on your patio.  Amazing!
$5



My dollhouse from some 30 + years ago. I gave it a fresh coat of paint, made the shutters from black popsicle sticks, and painted the door red.  There ya have it!
$0



I also embellished our little tree that I featured in my Just For Kids Tab.
Who knew a branch from the front yard painted white would be so much fun?!  Let's give her a a few little pom pom's too!
$0 


I purchased this lamp for $10 at Goodwill last month along with the lamp I featured on An Itch.  It was a brass beast!  But not any more...
Add tissue paper to the shade and a tassel to the switch for instant flair! The tissue looks just like ruffles and ruffles of flowers.
$10


Butterfly stamp specimen artwork made from thank you notes and birthday invitations....so easy! Click here for the inspiration.
$0



Framed scrapbook paper and homemade handprints.  The green frame hung in MY nursery and held some cooky 70's artwork.  I love the pop of green in her room!
$.50
 Nanny's Coo Coo clock painted robin egg blue!  
$3


Man, I loved that Coo Coo clock when I was a kid!
Now, my daughter can love it too, but in another color.




I added ribbon to the chandelier shades.  Easiest trick in the book!  The bird and crystals are a nice touch too.
$3




Scrapbook paper letter board.  An old oval frame, insert scrapbook paper and cover a letter in scrapbook paper.  Perfect gift for any little boy or girl!
$1

Magazine butterflies hanging on fishing line!  So.freaking.cool.
$0


My moms old armoire, from you guessed it--the 70's!  With a fresh coat of ivory paint.  Absolutley LOVE the detail on this armoire!
$0


I have a confession--I do sometimes sneak into my daughters room and rearrange the furniture in her dollhouse.  Is that weird?  




A fabric board fit for my little crafter!  An old painting canvas and a random yellow gingham flat sheet.  I lined  it out with hot pink ribbon and bought some adorable buttons. 
$5


The buttons really add a fun touch!

Hannah's NEW dressing area!  All her dress-up stuff is inside that chest for a snappy clean-up! 
 $0
The bunny board is a project I made in Girl Scouts.  My mom saved it all those years--so glad she did.   A bunny stamp and white knobs for the tail...brilliant idea.  Troop #1016, baby!


We visited Disney World last fall and I thought Hannah would love the constant reminder.  These frames were in the basement and were part of a collection of bathroom art decor.  I literally just popped these pictures right in.  
$2



Since I am from Texas, I will always be a cowgirl at heart!
And so will my daughter.








What do you think?  Do you think she loves it?

I think it's a perfect fit!  The tutorials can be found below.


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For some great ideas for a BOYS ROOM-- click here.


Tutorials:

Pom Pom String lights: 


I keep seeing these pom pom's all over Pinterest and I had a snappy little idea to add them to this string of lights I had on hand.  The fact that you can light them up seemed even more whimsical!


I purchased various colors of tissue paper for about $5.   I spread each color out with it's like colors and folded it up.  Then cut 3-4 inch squares.  One time around cutting 20-30 circles.  Keep in mind the bigger the circle, the bigger the poof, and the more tissue paper you need.  You also may want them to be all different sizes, start with one size, one color  and then cut the next color and decide on the size.  
You can also use coffee filters.




I just made a cone with each circle and glued around and around...




Look how pretty they are all lit up! Reminds me of a beautiful hot pink rose--my favorite!  (My little "helper" is caught sleeping on the job...)

Lamp Shade: 
 Same technique with just white tissue paper or coffee filters.  (Obviously, both lights are only on for a short amount of time and have low wattage bulbs.)


Front door Wreath: I had another idea using these same pom pom's for a  front door wreath...  Get your Spring on Ya'll!

Framed Letter:




I purchased some fun scrapbook paper to cover an existing "H" I had.  You just simply trace the letter and cut it out with scissors.




Super easy!


       I recycled this unused frame and painted it ivory.


Just insert scrap paper and glue the letter on.  This would also be beautiful hanging from ribbon.

Butterfly Specimen Artwork:
I punched various butterflies from recycled thank you notes, birth announcements, wrapping paper and scrap book paper using my craft store butterfly punch.  I picked another piece of scrapbook paper for my backing that had a pattern so I could easily space out the butterflies.  Just squeeze the wings together and hot glue to the backing.  


Magazine Butterflies:
Click here to see my inspiration.   I do make mine a little differently, but I can't take all the credit.   I used a Spring issue of Vogue, but any magazine would do.
Cut two squares and fold like those fans we used to make in elementary school.  The top square should be slightly bigger than the bottom.



Tie together with thread, ribbon or raffia.



Round the top wings and blunt cut the bottom wings.  The more you make the better you will get and you will get into a GROOVE.

Fly little butterfly, FLY!

You could hang them from the window, chandelier, or all along the wall.  So.much.fun.


Here's what else you do with those little amazing butterflies--click here to see my post.


Fabric Memory Board:



What little girls room wouldn't be complete without a fabric memory board?  An old canvas and a flat sheet.  Get out that glue gun and get to stretching!  




 I had some hot pink ribbon and marked off where the lines should be.  A little trip to the local craft store for some adorable buttons and I (of course!) hot glued them...



Quick Tip:  Look for an old sweater or skirt with cute buttons to recycle for this purpose.








The Coo Coo clock BEFORE



Total for this HUNT--$29.50

From my HOUSE to your HOUSE, HAPPY HUNTING!
Thanks for stopping by!




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And as always, I love to hear from MY READERS!  Please leave me comments, post projects you have tried and feel free to ask me questions.


Here's Hannah's room BEFORE ...













Amazing how you can just CHANGE everything around, REFRESH it, and it looks so much better.  I have been trying to do this to Hannah's room for a long time.  I know we will both enjoy it!


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Kids' Spaces link up party on www.emilyaclark.com





Finding Fabulous (for less)
Thrifty Decor Chick
Southern Hospitality
Jennifer Rizzo
The Shabby Nest
Savvy Southern Style
Watch Out Martha
Tatertots and Jello


Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Fly little butterfly, FLY!

Hello People!

It's that time of the year again!  The sun is shining and the libations are floating--well almost--I am not in the pool yet.

My favorite time of the year has arrived!  Do you feel it?

The birds are singing, the butterflies are fluttering--  it's time for social gatherings, neighborly visits and lots and lots of birthday parties.

As I was wrapping some gifts and organizing some wine for some hostesses for our Spring/Summer line up, I was inspired by DIY magazine butterflies.  Click here to see the Pinterest inspiration.  While I make mine a little differently than this site, I can't take all the credit.  Did I mention how much I LOVE Pinterest?!  Click here to see my Pinterest boards. 

What better way to embellish a gift or a bottle of wine than with a glorious butterfly?!  Shoot, I'd even slap one on a bottle of Vodka, Skinny Girl Margarita, or Irish Wiskey!

I used a Spring issue of Vogue and some gold foil ribbon I had on hand to create these...


They are JUST perfect!  What a great way to set your gifts apart from others!  








Seriously, these take just MINUTES to make and you could make a whole mess to have on hand when you need them.  I thought the spring Vogue magazine was perfect because the pops of color in all the ads.  BUT I must say, as I was excited about the pops of color, I would turn the butterfly over and I also am also very fond of the muted toned butterfly too.




Quick tip-- if you don't happen to have  the right paper for the right gift, wrap the gift with the paper inside out.  On most wrapping paper the back side is white.   

Get the kids involved! Use your childs masterpieces as the wrapping paper.  I always have my kids make a card a few days before the gathering.  I feel like it really teaches them about the "thought" and gets them in the habit  to REALLY appreciate each birthday they are about to celebrate.  They come up with some pretty funny stuff for those cards!  To me, that's so much better than buying some random card from a store.

Stay tuned to see what I do with these in my daughters room...

From my House to your House, Happy Hunting!

Holly

Tutorial--
Cut two squares 3x3 and 2x2 and fold just like those fans we used to make in elementary school. 

Put the bigger square on top of the smaller square and tie close with thread or raffia. 

Cut the top points rounded and blunt cut the bottom wings.  You may have to play with it a little...  The more you make, the better they are!




Fly little butterfly, FLY!
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Linking to
Savy Southern Style
Watch Out Martha
Tatertots and Jello


Saturday, April 7, 2012

A Sleepy Little Fellow!

A recent trip to my favorite home goods store inspired a brilliant idea for my little best friend. 

 Meet Cooper, I mean sleepy.  

Cooper has many names.  He is known as Itty Bitty, which turned into Itty Piggy because he snorts and snores loud enough to wake the neighbors.   I am not kidding.   But one thing is for sure, he is the cutest little fellow I ever did see!   

Itty Bitty likes to sleep a lot and most of the time I have to peel him from my lap.  I have been thinking about purchasing a bed for him, but I quickly get distracted.  I found this little basket unexpectedly one day for $14.99.   I was thinking it would be great in the summer for bringing drinks and plates in from the backyard when we entertain. 

 Just then it hit me like a ton of bricks--let's see if it would work for Cooper.  I found an old pillow in the guest room that had lost it's "fluff" and wrapped it in his little blanket.  










Cooper went right over, smelled it, and went right to sleep.  It's right next to the front window which looks out into the front yard and he commands his post every day.  What a handsome little boy!




I guess you could say it was meant to be--
Happy Easter, Ya'll!

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